Post by Cokes on Mar 11, 2014 9:12:02 GMT -5

General InfoBiography: Chancellor Bennett was 18 when he was suspended from Chicago's Jones College Prep High for ten days. During that suspension, he created his first mixtape, titled 10 Day, which went on to become one of the most downloaded tapes on DatPiff, the internet and hip-hop community's authority and source for mixtapes. Following the release of 10 Day, he was asked to tour as Bonnaroo alumnus Childish Gambino's opener, and was featured on numerous mixtapes and remixes.

In 2013, Chance released his second mixtape, Acid Rap, to rave critical reviews, including a BNM from Pitchfork and a net 86/100 on Metacritic, which made it one of the highest scoring releases of last year. It is a mixtape that sounds more fully-formed and lush than any hip-hop album has in years, despite being self-released and produced mostly by beatmakers that only devout hip-hop heads have even heard of. And while it features Twista, Childish Gambino, Action Bronson, and Ab-soul, among others, Chance carries the proceedings on his back with his exceptional lyricism and vision. Acid Rap is a drug-tinged, ground-level view of what it's like to grow up in a city that is at once beautiful and brimming with hope while also being the most dangerous city in America. He shows more depth across its 13 tracks than some MCs show in their entire careers. His childhood, spent listening to the soul and jazz that was played in his home, informs his beat selection - sharp snares, lilting woodwinds and keys that range from cascading to tinkling are found throughout. There's even the occasional sweet guitar lick.Major Discography: 10 Day (2011), Acid Rap (2013) (Both freely available at those links)

Trapped in the middle of the map with a little-bitty rock and a little bit of rap

That, with a literary knack, and a little sh*tty Mac, and like literally jack

They murking kids; they murder kids here

Why you think they don't talk about it? They deserted us here

Where the f*ck is Matt Lauer at? Somebody get Katie Couric in here

Probably scared of all the refugees; look like we had a f*ckin' hurricane here

They'll be shooting whether it's dark or not, I mean the days is pretty dark a lot

Down here, it's easier to find a gun than it is to find a f*cking parking spot

No love for the opposition, specifically a cop position

Cause they've never been in our position

Getting violations for the nation, correlating, you dry snitchin'

Physical Reaction/Live ShowGet high, bob your head and sing along. Dance like you do in your bedroom. Be you.

Unlike Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky and so many of the hip-hop acts Bonnaroo has had over the years, Chance is so committed to his craft, his love of music and the value of performance that there is a damned good chance (ha!) that he'll bring a full band with a brass section and backing vocalists and the whole thing.

There may also be confetti and streamers.

Personal NotesChance is maybe the most promising talent in rap right now. He's put out two self-released mixtapes better than damn near anything that has come out in that time. In a year where Jay-Z, Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, Danny Brown, Earl Sweatshirt, Ghostface Killah, Run the Jewels, Action Bronson, Czarface, Mac Miller, Pusha T, Black Milk, and Deltron 3030 put out albums that were either hugely anticipated, great or both, a 20 year old from Chicago came out of relative nowhere to blow most of them clear out of the water. The kid's got the goods, and you will regret it if you miss this set.

Post by Jaz Mocean on Mar 11, 2014 9:19:03 GMT -5

IGH! Good write-up, cokes!

I can't really explain just how much I'm looking forward to his set. Acid Rap is my favorite album of last year...it didn't leave the CD player in my car for two or three months. That mixtape really showed that he's not just here to rap, he's here to make music - and have fun while doing it. I expect this to be a very high-energy and entertaining show. I'm gonna be trying my damndest to get up front for this.

Post by James Baxter on Mar 11, 2014 22:41:28 GMT -5

Love Chance, but I was prepared to skip his set in the case of a conflict- until I read your write-up about his live show. It sounds like a really good atmosphere, and my schedule almost definitely has been further complicated.

Post by littlegiant on Mar 16, 2014 16:25:02 GMT -5

I am a huge Chance the Rapper fan. I didn't start listening until he released "Acid Rap," but since then I have been hooked. Both "10 Day" and "Acid Rap" are really good mixtapes. Honestly, I can listen to "Acid Rap" all the way through continuously and never get bored.

I had the opportunity to see him live in November during the Social Experiment tour, and honestly, I was a bit disappointed. I thought the show was good enough, but I didn't like the live renditions of a lot of the songs. It was really cool to be able to see Vic and Twista do "Cocoa Butter Kisses," but overall, I thought the show was a bit of a let down. The highlights of the show were "Chain Smoker", "Cocoa Butter Kisses", and the Coldplay cover he did.

I will be skipping this show at 'Roo unless there is absolutely nothing else I want to see. He puts on a good enough show, but nowhere near what I think he is capable of. Also, The Social Experiment, which is the name of the tour, but also the name of the band he toured with on that tour, is actually really good.

Post by Cokes on Mar 16, 2014 21:32:59 GMT -5

I think it's worth noting that he has not toured extensively and that he is still developing his stage chops. I think - as I implied - that he cares to put on a show that favors live instrumentation and so forth, rather than a table with a Mac, but he is surely still working on figuring out exactly what he wants and what works best.

I think, with all the big time shows he has lined up between now and Roo, he is really going to stat to hone his skills and his preferences for his stage show.

Post by littlegiant on Mar 16, 2014 21:54:12 GMT -5

I think it's worth noting that he has not toured extensively and that he is still developing his stage chops. I think - as I implied - that he cares to put on a show that favors live instrumentation and so forth, rather than a table with a Mac, but he is surely still working on figuring out exactly what he wants and what works best.

I think, with all the big time shows he has lined up between now and Roo, he is really going to stat to hone his skills and his preferences for his stage show.

Yeah, I really hope he is able to hone in the live performance because there is a lot of potential there.

For a hip hop act of his size (which I would say is relatively small), touring with a live band is really cool. Especially because the people he got to tour with him are excellent musicians.

I just hope for 'Roo he drops about 100 of the "turn ups" he screams during his performances. 10 is enough.

Post by Jaz Mocean on Mar 17, 2014 12:44:50 GMT -5

I just hope for 'Roo he drops about 100 of the "turn ups" he screams during his performances. 10 is enough.

I've heard nothing of his live performances aside from what I've read in this thread, and if this is true, I hope you're right. I remember seeing Kendrick at Roo in 2012 and he was constantly screaming about pussy and Patron, and it was an incredibly disappointing show. Hip-hop shows are not enhanced by repetitive ad-libs.

Though I've heard "igh" on Acid Rap enough times that if I hear it some more I probably won't notice lol.